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Square Enix's stealthy auto-runner Mini Ninjas is currently going free on the App Store.
The colourful runner, which sees you guiding a posse of martial artists through oriental environments packed with collectible coins and concealed enemies, has been reduced as part of Apple's Free App of the Week scheme.
In addition to letting you run and jump, Mini Ninjas gives you mystical powers. This allows you to cast shielding spells to protect against nasties, or turn yourself into a tornado to cut through the enemy ranks.
You'll also find ninja allies trapped in cages. Free them, and you'll be able to use their powers to help you defeat the dragon which lies at the end of your journey.
Mini Ni…

We mentioned yesterday that, following a leave of absence, handsome RTS Autumn Dynasty has returned to App Store, and is available free of charge.
Since then, we have discovered the sequel, Autumn Dynasty: Warlords, will arrive on iOS on February 27th.
This sequel will expand on the gorgeous painted worlds of the original strategy game, dropping you back into a war-torn feudal-era China and tasking you with leading your army to victory.
In fact, we were supposed to be knee deep in flags and flying arrows already, as developer Touch Dimension first planned to release Autumn Dynasty: Warlords back in November of last year.
However, according to the team, they delayed the…

I love a bit of space exploration. Whether I'm searching for ore in Mass Effect's Nimbus Cluster, or fending off Rockmen in FTL (which is on its way to iOS, incidentally), you'll always find me with a smile on my face, and a Star Trek reference on the tip of my tongue.
Which is why I was interested in pulling up the blast shield of space exploration sim Out There, the soon-to-be released sci-fi adventure from Mi-Clos Studio.
Rather than throwing flashy, real-time 3D battles at your face every 60 seconds, Out There takes a more measured approach to the art of intergalactic travel.
Instead of launching a never-ending volley of photon torpedoes, find yourself managing your ship's fuel…

Rovio has added 26 new levels to its tropical bird-flinger Angry Birds Rio.
The newly released High Dive update introduces fans of the feather-filled movie tie-in to the Brazilian Port Harbour environment.
To complete these levels you'll have to smash through numerous shops and stalls, as well as plunge into the watery depths to liberate the dolphins trapped beneath.
We imagine this update has been released to stir up interest for Dreamworks movie sequel Rio 2, which is due to hit cinemas within the next couple of months.
Whether Rovio will release an accompanying follow-up to Angry Birds Rio, or simply bombard us with updates remains to be seen (my guess is the former).
Owners of Ang…

Feudal RTS Autumn Dynasty is back on the App Store, and available to download free-of-charge for a limited time.
The acclaimed game, which throws you into an ancient, beautifully-drawn world on the brink of revolution, recently vanished from the App Store without warning. According to developer Touch Dimensions, this was a result of the team's contract with publisher Bulkypix coming to an end.
However, to mark the upcoming release of the game's sequel, Autumn Dynasty -Warlords, the developer has uploaded the original back onto the App Store minus the price tag.
This not only allows those who previously bought the game to re-download it and continue to receive updates, but also giv…

Oquonie, the latest minimalist brain-teaser from the creator of Hiversaires, is now available on the App Store.
Set in a hand-drawn, black-and-white world, Oquonie is a peculiar puzzle-adventure which seems to delight in confusing the player.
There are no instructions or intelligible text to explain the plot or purpose of the game. You are simply placed in a grid-based, isometric world, and left to your own devices.
A couple of exploratory taps later, and you'll find you can move your character around the office environment, and interact with objects.
To escape each area, you must solve strange riddles by deciphering unusual symbols, and negotiating with a series increasingly bizarre l…

Take a deep breath. Hold it. Now breathe out slowly.
Take in your surroundings. Hear the rustling of the leaves outside your window. Feel the smooth, sculpted curve of the mouse beneath your palm.
Know that you are a tiny grain of sand, a tiny part of a small beach at the edge of an ever-expanding ocean of hidden knowledge and as-yet unseen wonder.
Excellent. You are now ready to watch me play Tengami, the extremely zen papercraft puzzle adventure due to hit the App Store tonight.…

Developer Forsaken Media is just about to release Bug Heroes 2, the follow-up to its insect-centric "tactic action / defence hybrid" game.
In it, you take control of a pair of insect soldiers, and attempt to fend off waves of creepy crawlies, and prevent them from smashing up your base and stealing your food supplies.
I got to grips with Bug Heroes 2 about an hour ago, and am pleased to report that the game has bags of promise. It's smooth, easy to handle, and overflowing with colour and character.
We'll have to play a little further to find out how the free-to-play model affects the Bug Heroes 2's gameplay. However, to get a taste of what the game has in store for you, check out the…

Old-school dungeon-crawler Coldfire Keep is set to appear on the App Store later tonight.
This first-person adventure appears to be walking in the footsteps of classic PC adventure games like Eye of the Beholder.
Though it looks like a standard FPS, the game restricts your movement to a grid. This system mean you advance through the world one tile at a time, and can only turn through rigid 90-degree angles.
You take control of four characters, each with their own skills and unique talents. Their quest to save their hometown will take them though dark dungeons, and pit them against all manner of viscious beasties.
As you can see from our hands-on video, Crescent Moon Games is clearly an…

Multiplayer online battler Bug Heroes 2 is bringing insect warfare back to your touchscreen tonight, when it goes live on the App Store.
Part tower defence, part third-person shooter, this colourful free-to-play sequel puts you in charge of a pair of courageous insects, and tasks you with protecting your base from incoming enemies.
Combat plays out from an over-the-shoulder perspective, allowing a nice view of the action as slice up kamikaze fleas heavily armoured snails. You can also jump between squad members at the touch of a button, and issue orders to your teammate by tapping the environment.
However, in addition the freeform combat, Bug Heroes 2 includes a strong tower defence mec…

Turns out FTL: Advanced Edition is going to be even more advanced than we thought by the time it hits the iPad later this year.
In addition to confirming the space exploration sim is nearly ready to enter the iOS sector, developer Subset Games has revealed a few new systems and features which FTL fans have never seen before.
For example, the iPad version will offer a clone bay, allowing you to duplicate crew mates if they happen to perish during an unfortunate away mission.
You'll also be able to swap out your standard drone for a hacking drone. This handy unit will attach itself to enemy ships, and interfere with the vessel's weapons and sheilding systems.
Alternatively, i…

In a world where magic no longer exists, a girl with hidden powers awakes. Pursued by enemies who would use her ancient skills for evil, she unites with a band of rebels, and finds herself fighting for her life - and the fate of the world - against the tyrannical reign of the Empire.
So much has been written about Final Fantasy VI over the years that it's difficult to avoid retreading old ground when discussing it. However, considering its one of the most highly regarded RPGs ever mad…

CastleStorm, the physics-based seige sim which appeared on the PS Vita last year, will come crashing onto the App Store this spring.
Combining the object-flinging element of Angry Birds with the base-reinforcement mechanics of a tower defence game, CastleStorm encourages you to erect mighty battlements, while simultaneously shattering your enemy's structures to the ground.
Unlike the Vita version, this iOS port of Zen Studio's 3D smash-'em-up will be free-to-play. Despite this, the developer claims the game will still include four campaigns, four playable nations, and 150 different battle scenarios.
Mobile gamers will also get access to previously unseen spells. We doubt one of them will…

Cinemaware has just brought its gangster-themed adventure The King of Chicago to iPhone and iPad.
Known for developing Amiga games based around movie genres, Cinemaware has been more active recently, following a successful Kickstarter campaign to revive its '90 flying game Wings.
In the meantime, though, the team has decided to take the concrete shoes off another of its Amiga creations: the mobster-populated point-and-click adventure The King of Chicago.
Following the story of an up-and-coming wise guy, the game has you doing drive-bys, executing hits, and regularly inviting your enemies to watch their backs and sleep with the fishes.
This is a direct emulation of the origi…

Sonic hasn't had much time for his old enemies recently. In the free-to-play runner Sonic Dash, he has spent most of his time fighting off Zavok, Zazz, and other strangely named members of the Deadly Six.
However, a new update has brought with it a blast from the past, in the form of one Dr. Eggman, otherwise known as Sonic's original nemesis Dr. Robotnik.
In the new Dr. Eggman Boss Battle sections, you have to guide Sonic around a series of traps, and avoid attacks from the levitating, goggle-sporting maniac. You'll even get to leap into the air and sabotage the lunatic's signature hoverchair.
You can download the Sonic Dash update for free right now. In fact, the game itself is free - w…